Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-22

Killed on the >pot-Pieces OF Ragged
Flesh Scattered in All Directions.
NEW YORK, July 81.
The Evening Telegram prints an account
of a terrible railroad accident W hicb occurred
this morning, on the Erie railroad, between
Allendale and Hohokus. 1t says: The ca
tastrophe was attended with an appalling loss
of life, and over dozen msngled bodies on
the track attested the indifference, stupidity
or wanton neglect of some one whose duty
it should have been to give warning of the
impending disaster.
gang of Italian laborers were at work
ballasting on the railroad, little distance
from a sharp curve about three.fourths OF a
which was due an hour before, had not ar.
rived, apd these men, whose foreman should
have given a warning whistle when the trsin
was approaching the sharp curve, were busy
at work, unconscious of the terrible fate
which was in store for them.
At quarter past seven, train No. II, the
express, which was due an hour previous,
rushed around the curve before the men had
the slightest warning, and dashed through
them. killing II or l5 on the spot and wound
ing many others. When the train slowed up
the track presented a sickening sight, being
covered with msngled bodies, the rails being
spattered with blood, and broken limbs and
pieces of ragged flesh being scatteIe ed in all
directions.
Some of the bodies were mangled beyond
description, and crushed out of all semblance
to humanity To most of the victims death
must have come instantaneously, but some of
them appeared to be yet quivering and the
life ebbing away, when the train was brought
to a standstill.
There was only fifteen minutes delay, and
the train which had wrought so much disast
er proceeded on its way from Allendale to
Hohokus.
Who is to blame is yet to be settled, but il
is claimed that it was the duty of the foreman
of the gang of laborers to watch for the ap-
preaching trains at the dangerous curve and
that he must have neglected to give the warn
ing whistle.
Mr. W. L. Hudson, passenger on the
local train, which was behind the Chicago
express, in conversation with a Telegram re
porter, described the scene as one of the
most sickening that could be witnessed.
Along the tracks," he said, ''were arms,
legs, trunks and other parts of bodies, and
the tracks, for long distance, were slippery
with blood
The disaster must have taken place with
such suddenness that the men did not know
till the train was down on them. The con
ductor of the train on which | rode said that
the train hands of the express were not to
blame. He believed the fore man of the gang
was responsible for the disa, ter by neglecting
to give warning.
Toe engineer of the express in a state
ment made when he reached Jersey City, said
that before he reached the curve he blew a
warning whistle, not knowing, however. that
any people were on the track. The moment
his train had turned the curve he saw the
Italians huddled like flock of sheep on the
track his engine was on. They had got over
there to avoid the train coming from New
York City, and had their backs turned to the
express. He tried hard to stop his train but
no human power could have done so in time
to avoid killing the men.
The engine, he said, moved them down as
scythe cut grass and their mangled bodies
were thrown in all directions. Passengers
on the following trains counted fifteen bodies.
The company will make rigid Investigation
into the accident and endeavor TO place the
res spOnsibility upon those to whom it belongs.
The Associated Press correspondent at
Patterson, N. j., telegraphs: "a large torce
of Italians were at work ballasting road
bed. They were hired direct BY the Erie
company and not BY the contractor.
About 730 men were working on the east
bound track and were scattered along over
the track for considerable distance. The
milk train, which leaves New York about six
o'clock, was approaching from the south, and
the fast Chicago express train, due in New
York at l5, was coming from the other
direction on the track on which the men were
working. The noise of the numbering milk
train prevented the men from hearing the ap-
proach of the express, and besides. there is a
sharp curve above ihat point. The express
dashed into the crowd of Italians and moved
them down.
The scene was terrible one after the train
had passed and the men lay dead, or writhing
with pain along the track. The train was
stopped and delayed about twenty minutes.
Word was sent to Paterson, and the injured
were conveyed in a special car to st. Joseph
Hospital. There we're SIX of these, two of
whom will doubtless die. Meanwhile the
horrorstricken spectators and fellow employees
were picking up eleven frghtfully mangled
corpses, which were conveyed to a shantv
nsed as boarding place by Italians above
Hohokus. Two of the dead belonged in Pat
terson.
The rest lived in cars or shanties along the
track. The men were known by numbers as
is usual with Italian railroad laborers. BY
permission of a local priest the remains will
be intt rred in the Catholic burial ground
Few, if any, of the killed had families in this
country. Their male companions were cry
ing over the bodies this morning in the
shanty, kissing the cold faces and praying
and lamentiLg before crucifxes.
HoHoKUs, n. J., July 81.
Ten of the Italians killed in today's dsas
ter were married and had been in this country
only about six months. One was so fright
fully injured about the head and body as to
be unre cogniz able. Six or seven hundred
dollars were found on the persons of the dead
men and was taken bv Mr.. March, to be
handed by him to the Italian consul for their
relatives,